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By Chinelo Obogo
Former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, has stated that Africa needs to move from being a passive consumer of imported vehicles to becoming a creator of modern mobility systems, stressing that the continent’s economic future depends on this shift.
Speaking at the Africa Automotive CEO Awards and Book Launch held in Lagos this week, Nnaji said mobility has always been central to national development. The former Minister, who was represented by Professor Silk Ugwu Ogbu warned that Nigeria cannot remain behind while the world transitions to electric, autonomous and software driven mobility, noting that the automotive sector has become the new backbone of global innovation. He added that the government has a central role in the future of mobility, insisting that the transformation required cannot be led by the private sector alone.
“Mobility is more than transportation. It is what connects people to education, healthcare, markets and prosperity. When mobility evolves, nations evolve; when it stagnates, societies fall. Nigeria must be a co-author of the mobility future, not a late adopter. The talent is here, what we need are the right investments and the right policies. The government cannot be a spectator. Mobility transformation demands intentional policy because markets alone cannot build infrastructure at the speed and scale required,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of AutoHub Africa, Chika Joel, said the event was organised to strengthen the industry, promote learning and build a community of forward thinking automotive CEOs.
Speaking on his new book Modern Automotive CEO, he described it as a complete guide for anyone aspiring to lead in the automotive sector.
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He explained that the book was inspired by his early start in the industry and his concern about poor practices and lack of technical standards across Africa. He emphasised that Africa can create its own automotive brands and technological breakthroughs if it prioritises education and technical know-how. “I took my time to study this industry from the grassroots.
This book is a stepping stone to help Africans, especially Nigerians, become relevant globally,” Joel said.
On his part, founder of Negotiator International, Mitchel Nwokedi emphasised the need for collaboration among stakeholders in the automotive industry to support local manufacturing. Nwokedi said: “Right now, everyone is working individually. We need to come together as one industry.”
She expressed concern over Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported vehicles despite having local assembly plants capable of meeting domestic demand.
“It hurts to see us importing damaged cars when we have manufacturers here who can produce quality vehicles if given proper support. We cannot build a strong automotive industry on unstable policies. Investors need consistency, and manufacturers need long-term support.m“Government also has to encourage us so that we can build something unique”, she said.
